Job Interview Question and Answer: Would Your Current Boss Describe You As the Type of Person Who Goes That Extra Mile?

More often than not, if they are serious about hiring you, the interviewer will call your previous boss to get them to answer this one. So this is more a personal question aimed at finding out if you see yourself as someone who puts in that extra bit of effort to get the job done.

Just a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer is not going to cut it for most interview questions, this one in particular. Make sure you back up what you are saying with examples, as this will validate what you are trying to say.

Employers want employees who are go-getters, who show passion for their work and don't mind putting in extra time or effort in order to get the job done right. They don't want someone who puts in the bare minimum and nothing more. When there's a big job to be tackled, they want to know they can count on you to take responsibility and get stuck in with the rest of the team.

Give examples from your previous work that demonstrate your enthusiasm, reliability and willingness to take on difficult projects. Describing ‘long hours of work’ is a good way to show you go the extra mile – just make sure you prove the hours were for productive reasons and not because you were slacking off and trying to catch up!

See our full list of interview questions and answers to help you in your next interview!